Wasses Hot Dogs

Rockland Location, October 25, 2026

The wife and I have tried numerous times this summer to grab a dog from one of Wasses stands, but we were either too early, too late and they were closed.  Finally today, October 25th, after getting Wesley's last stamp at Reny's in Camden we headed over to the original Wasses stand and grabbed a few dogs for lunch.

I did grab a few photos as I thought I would update this blog, much to my surprise I have never posted about Wasses on the blog.  To quote Vizzini, inconceivable!! 

Wasses Rockland Menu, October 25, 2026

While Wasses is not my regular hot dog joint, I've been going to their locations over 20 years.  Today we each got two dogs, I got 1 with chili cheese, 1 with just mustard, Kate's are both mustard and grilled onions, Wesley ketchup.

In years past I have always gone with just mustard on my dog, but I've been sampling chili cheese dogs over the last couple years.  I wouldn't get the chili again, it was good but not super flavorful. 

Wasses has 3 current locations, 2 North Main St, Rockland, 179 New County Rd, Thomaston, and Route 3 Belfast in the parking lot of Reny's.  The used to have a stand at 519 Main St, Damariscotta but that location closed in 2017 after only being open for 2 years when the lease holder of the property decided to sell it.  Other previous locations include Camden and a second Rockland location. 

According to the Boothby Register, Keith Wass opened his first location in 1972 taking over the business from his Uncle-In-Law.  The business originated in the 1920s with brothers Louie and Barney Benovitch. It was a little pushcart at the corner of Main and Orient Street in Rockland.

On how the name of the business became Wasses and not Wass' “My Country Kitchen delivery person asked what I was going to name the wagon. I said I was going to call it Wass' Wagon. When he wrote out a form he spelled it improperly and I decide to keep it.”

When he built the current Rockland location in 1986 it became Wasses Hot Dogs, as it was no longer a wagon.  Wasses serves Kirschner's natural casing hot dogs grilled on a flat top in peanut oil served in perfectly steamed New England style top split buns.  A Wasses Everything dog comes with mustard, sweet relish, and grilled onions, which are also cooked in peanut oil. 

All locations have soda, water, chocolate milk, and chips, while only Rockland also has French Fries. 

Here are some photos of the Thomaston location that I took on December 5, 2019 while doing audits while working in the AIU in Knox County.

Until Next Time!